Software vulnerability due to practical drift |
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Authors: | Christian V Lundestad Anique Hommels |
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Institution: | (1) Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1108, Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway;(2) Department of Technology and Society Studies, University of Maastricht, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | The proliferation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) into all aspects of life poses unique ethical challenges
as our modern societies become increasingly dependent on the flawless operation of these technologies. As we increasingly
entrust our privacy, our well-being and our lives to an ever greater number of computers we need to look more closely at the
risks and ethical implications of these developments. By emphasising the vulnerability of software and the practice of professional
software developers, we want to make clear the ethical aspects of producing potentially flawed software. This paper outlines
some of the vulnerabilities associated with software systems and identifies a number of social and organisational factors
affecting software developers and contributing to these vulnerabilities. Scott A. Snook’s theory of practical drift is used as the basis for our analysis. We show that this theory, originally developed to explain the failure of a military
organisation, can be used to understand how professional software developers “drift away” from procedures and processes designed
to ensure quality and prevent software vulnerability. Based on interviews with software developers in two Norwegian companies
we identify two areas where social factors compel software developers to drift away from a global set of rules constituting
software development processes and methods. Issues of pleasure and control and difference in mental models contribute to an uncoupling from established practices designed to guarantee the reliability of software and thus diminish
its vulnerability. |
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Keywords: | practical drift professional ethics software development and use software vulnerability Science Technology and Society studies |
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